The County Council has temporarily converted an empty office in Nottingham into a school so that the £500,000 refurbishment of West Bridgford Infant School can be completed in time for the children going back to school in September.

The nine-week programme began earlier this month and involves stripping out redundant services from the primary school before improvements and redecoration can take place.

The traditional Victorian building at Avon Gardens on George Road needed to be vacated before the end of term to avoid repair works continuing into the autumn term when the new pupil intake begins.

The Council's committee chairman for children and young people's services Philip Owen said: "There is a very tight turnaround time on this work to ensure that the children can be back in their improved school by the autumn term and our project team here at the council has worked tirelessly to ensure that it’s 'business as usual' for the school with no disruption to the children's education.


"We've been bussing the children from the school gates to Centenary House and back again at the end of the day over the past three weeks at our expense. We didn't want parents and children having to cross busy roads on foot. We've also drafted in extra staff to help at drop off and pick up times.

"The school was dilapidated, so these works will ensure that the 253 pupils will move back into a easily manageable school building with teaching spaces fit for modern day learning."

Safeguarding work to the County Council building which has been undertaken by the

The works to West Bridgford Infant School involve installing a new lighting, power and heating system; suspended ceilings throughout; remedial fire works; and new IT systems before the whole school is redecorated.

The children will move back into their school on Monday 10 September.

(CD)